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4 June 2026
I
was told that Pooh Bear (a Merrythought nightie holder) "has been very
unwell for 50 years" before he was sent for treatment to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital. His owner's daughters wanted him restored as a surprise present for their mother's big anniversary this year.
After a good clean, I made Pooh Bear new
paw pads, mended all the holes, and topped up his nose embroidery. I
also replaced the broken zip on his back, and made a new inner bag for
the nightie. When the birthday came, his owner thought at first her
present was a new bear - only to realise a moment later that it was
still her beloved old Pooh!
Teddy
Rabbit's treatment was also a present, from his owner's partner, to
celebrate the owner's (and Rabbit's) 32nd birthday. I cleaned and
re-stuffed him, and mended his costume. Rabbit looked great - I would
never guess he was a day over 18))
Much
loved 40-year-old Fluffy also got a good clean and all new stuffing.
When mending his holes, I underlined much of his skin with a new
fabric, and also resorted to a discreet transplant to deal with one
particularly big hole. Fluffy's owner said he looked fabulous upon his
return from Hospital.
25 May
Tigers being an endangered species, it is no surprise that I had no tiger patients at my Teddy Bear Hospital
this year - until 37-year-old Tigger arrived. Even though he had always
accompanied his owner everywhere, Tigger's fur was still quite thick.
Once I mended some holes, gave him a good clean, and added some
stuffing, he looked absolutely gorgeous.
A large somewhat tired-looking vintage Schuko bear,
known simply as Bear, came to me for a spa treatment. He explained that
he needed to look his best because his owner was about to hand him over
to her young granddaughter. Bear perked up considerably after
treatment, and agreed to have both ears re-sewn more neatly to his
head.
68-year-old Ted required a more extensive treatment - a
present from his owner for his upcoming 70th birthday. I replaced all
his paw pads and his broken squeaker, mended all the holes, and
re-embroidered his nose. Both Ted and his owner were very pleased with
Ted's transformation!
12 May
I rarely admit humans to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital
but I could not turn down this doll, who is very dear to her owner.
After 40 odd years of peace, one day she lost her head, much to the
distress of the whole family. I managed to re-unite the doll with her
head, washed her face, combed her hair, and ironed her dress and
ribbon. The doll was most pleased, and promised to look after her head
better from now on.
60-something
Big Ted came to the Hospital with his newly adopted brother Little Ted
(age unknown), whom his owner had rescued from an antique shop. Big Ted
was rather poorly, so I had to mend and darn many holes, re-stitch some
seams, add stuffing, tighten his joints, and replace all his paw pads.
I also restored his voice by giving him a new growler, and topped up
his nose embroidery.
Little
Ted, though he looked quite sad on arrival, did not require quite as
much work. A good clean immediately improved his looks and mood, and he
was most grateful for his two new English glass eyes, and his
re-embroidered nose and smile.
1 May
Sometimes a patient's name on their admission form for Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital
makes me raise an eyebrow. Yet when I saw 45-year-old Hercules, I
realised that the name suited him: though not huge, he was clearly a
mighty bear. His labours had left him with many injuries, so I set
about restoring his health. I mended all the holes in his skin,
re-stuffed him, gave him a new nose, and put his missing eye back.
Finally, I re-embroidered his smile, and Hercules was fit again and
ready to resume his labours.
Another
patient with an unusual name was Bimbi. After a good clean, I
re-stuffed him, replaced his worn-out paw pads, and re-embroidered his
nose. Though it was hard to read his expression, I thought he was quite
pleased with the care that he received.
I
have not had many hand puppets among my patients, so I was pleased to
be able to help Bun the Fluppet Rabbit. I washed him, replaced the
inside of his ears, and mended some small holes. Happy with his
treatment, Bun merrily hopped off back home.
18 April
Skittles the Unicorn was in a bad way when admitted to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital,
with a huge hole on her side. She was shedding stuffing through the
hole and was unable to stand. I mended that hole and some smaller ones,
added stuffing and cleaned her, and Skittles was ready to prance and
caper again, as unicorns do))
My
next patient was Rabbit, one of two identical twins who had accompanied
their owner all her life (she is graduating this year). Rabbit was
usually carried around held by the neck, so while his head was in good
nick, everything below was not, and he bore traces of various
multicoloured repairs that his owner applied over the years. Following
the owner's wishes, I unstitched them all, reinforced Rabbit's skin
round the neck and elsewhere, and re-stuffed his body and limbs, so
Rabbit can now sit comfortably.
Next
came 34-year-old Bear, whom his owner had since she was six weeks old.
In addition to cleaning, re-stuffing and mending holes, I faithfully
recreated Bear's original hat and onesie, which he was wearing under
two other layers of clothing added over the years.
12 April
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Over
a year ago, I was asked to make five "memory bears" commemorating a
much loved mother and grandmother who had recently passed away.
I received some of her favourite items of clothing to make the bears from, and soon they were ready.
Some time later, I made another memory bear, for a newborn baby in the family.
And now I have finished Memory Bear No.7, who is rather special, as she will be a bridesmaid at a wedding next month. |
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2 April
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I only had to start making new Teddies, and now they are coming thick and fast))
So please all welcome Isla! She is just 4?" tall,
made of soft brushable mohair, and filled with polyfill and fine
woodwool.
Isla is a trustworthy and dependable little bear who always tries to keep her word.
She has recently become fascinated with the smell of coffee, and she can already tell her Arabica from her Robusta!
When she grows up, Isla says she wants to become a famous bearista. |
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1 April
Kit-Boy arrived in Sasha's
Teddy Bear Hospital
with a nasty hole on his muzzle, his nose nearly falling off. I treated
his wound, gave him a gentle clean, and added some stuffing to his neck
and shoulders, so he was a picture of health when he checked out a few
days later. "He is looking fabulous!" was how Kit-Boy's owner summed it up.
Two
nice traditional Teddies belonging to two siblings did not spend long
in the Hospital either. The German-made Clemens bear only needed two
paw pads on his feet replaced with new felt, while his good friend had
to have all four paw pads replaced, and his Merrythought label
transferred.
An older Teddy Bear, aged about 65, only came for a
re-stuffing. Given his age, I was very impressed with his overall
condition: his fur - particularly after I cleaned it - looked as good
as new.
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